A look back at the 13-day period when the U.S. was on the brink of war.

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Members of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) march during a protest against the U.S.'s action over the Cuban missile crisis October 28, 1962 in London, United Kingdom. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of.

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P2V Neptune U.S. patrol plane flies over a Soviet freighter during the Cuban missile crisis in this 1962 photograph. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of.

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Soviet cargo ship, the Fizik Kurchatov, carrying six canvas covered missile transporters with missiles, leaves Cuba en route for Russia during the Cuban missile crisis November 12, 1962. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of.

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The Soviet ship Kasimov, takes 15 (Soviet) I1-28 aircrafts from Cuba after the U.S. asked for their withdraw. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba, said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of.

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U.S. President John F. Kennedy speaks during a televised speech to the nation about the Cuban missile crisis February 11, 1962 in Washington, DC. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of.

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Protesters stage a sit-in during a demonstration against the Cuban missile crisis October 24, 1962 in London, United Kingdom. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of.

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Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan (1895 - 1978) Soviet politician in his capacity as Deputy Premier of the USSR meeting President Kennedy of America at the White House for discussions on Cuba, following the Cuban missile crisis.

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U.S. president John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963) signs the Blockade Proclamation before photographers during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Washington, D.C., November 3, 1962.

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25th October 1962: American tanks on alert in the Berlin Grunewald, West Germany, as the crisis over the Cuban blockade looms during the Cuban missile crisis.

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High performance X1G-21 aircraft and sites being prepared for Soviet missiles deployed by Khrushchev at an airfield in Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

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Cuba's President of the Republic, Osvaldo Dorticos Torrado, addresses the United Nations General Assembly to denounce U.S. aggression against his country during the Cuban missile crisis October 8, 1962 in New York City. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of.

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Police and CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) demonstrators on Whitehall, London, during a protest against the United States' handling of the Cuban missile crisis, Whitehall, London, 27th October 1962.

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A spy photo of a medium range ballistic missile base in San Cristobal, Cuba, with labels detailing various parts of the base, is shown October 1962. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of.

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The Soviet ship Kasimov is shown just off Cuba with fifteen (Soviet) I1-28 aircraft on board December 10, 1962. Fuselage crates on the ship were opened by the Soviet crew for U.S. air inspection, with the airplanes, formerly based on Cuba, removed at the request of U.S. authorities during the Cuban missile crisis. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of.

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Members of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) stage a sit-in, protesting the Cuban missile crisis, as a line of policemen tries to prevent them from reaching the Admiralty House, official residence of the prime minister, October 27, 1962 in London, United Kingdom. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of

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Members of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) march during a protest against the U.S.'s action over the Cuban missile crisis October 28, 1962 in London, United Kingdom. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of.

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John Hughes, Special Assistant to the Director of Defense Intelligence, conducts a military briefing for the news media showing the absence of Soviet missiles in Cuba with an aerial map during the Cuban missile crisis February 6, 1963 in Washington, DC. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of.

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Cuba's President of the Republic, Osvaldo Dorticos Torrado, addresses the United Nations General Assembly to denounce U.S. aggression against his country during the Cuban missile crisis October 8, 1962 in New York City. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of.

(Getty)

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CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) demonstrators protesting against the United States' handling of the Cuban missile crisis, Whitehall, London, 27th October 1962. They are holding a banner reading: 'No War Over Cuba'.